Natalie du Toit from South Africa will obviously have her sights set on the 2012 London Olympics, especially after she has won 5 Gold Medals in the Paralympic Beijing Olympics. She won medals in the women’s 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle. She also took 5 medals in the 2004 Athens Paralympics. At only 24 years old, and with her current results, you can see why she will have ambitions at the 2012 London Olympics.
She has a wonderful attitude toward life and herself. You can see by the comments she has made. “You don’t say ‘I’m racing slightly disabled people, I’m not going to go fast’. A race is a race. You get out there and you race. Having the dream just to get to the Olympic Games and having that one accomplished, I think 2012 is definitely on the cards to do better and better. I have a saying and it says the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals. The tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars but it is a disgrace not to have stars to reach for. It also inspires you. You’re not the only one with the disability and others are more disabled than you,” she added.
If more people in this world had this kind of attitude we would not have depressions and all the other negative things that happen in our lives. She is an inspiration to all. I hope our athletes both able and disable will have the same sort of attitude at the 2012 London Olympics. Who knows this London Olympics could end up the best ever for GB.
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